put yourself in his place-第71部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


hen；　in　a　very　different　tone；　〃You　will　love　your　poor　mother　still；　when　you　are　married？　　You　will　say；　'I　owe　her　my　wife；'　will　you　not？〃

Henry　was　so　puzzled　he　could　not　reply　even　to　this　touching　appeal；　made　with　eyes　full　of　tears　at　the　thought　of　parting　with　him。

Mrs。　Little　proceeded　to　explain：　〃Let　me　begin　at　the　beginning。　Dr。　Amboyne　has　shown　me　I　was　more　to　blame　than　your　uncle；　was。　Would　you　believe　it？　although　he　refused　your　poor　father　the　trust…money；　he　went　that　moment　to　get　L2000　of　his　own；　and　lend　it　to　us。　　Oh；　Henry；　when　Dr　Amboyne　told　me　that；　and　opened　my　eyes；　I　could　have　thrown　myself　at　poor　Guy's　feet。　　I　have　been　the　most　to　blame　in　our　unhappy　quarrel；　and　I　have　sent　Dr。　Amboyne　to　say　so。　　Now；　Henry；　my　brother　will　forgive　me；　the　doctor　says；　and；　oh；　my　heart　yearns　to　be　reconciled。　　You　will　not　stand　in　my　way；　dearest？〃

〃Not　likely。　　Why；　I　am　under　obligations　to　him；　for　my　part。〃

〃Yes；　but　Dr。　Amboyne　says　dear　Guy　is　deeply　mortified　by　your　refusal　to　be　his　heir。　　For　my　sake；　for　your　own　sake；　and　for　Grace　Carden's　sake；　change　your　mind　now。〃

〃What；　go　into　his　house；　and　wait　for　dead　men's　shoes！　　Find　myself　some　day　wishing　in　my　heart　that　noble　old　fellow　would　die！　Such　a　life　turns　a　man's　stomach　even　to　think　of　it。〃

〃No；　no。　　Dr。　Amboyne　says　that　Mr。　Bayne　can　conduct　your　business　here；　and　hand　you　a　little　income；　without　your　meddling。〃

〃That　is　true。〃

〃And；　as　for　your　patents；　gentlemen　can　sell　them　to　traders；　or　lease　them　out。　　My　brother　would　make　a　settlement　on　Grace　and　youshe　is　his　goddaughternow　that　is　all　Mr。　Carden　demands。　Then　you　could　marry；　and；　on　your　small　present　income；　make　a　little　tour　together；　and　dispose　of　your　patents　in　other　places。〃

〃I　could　do　great　things　with　them　in　the　United　States。〃

〃That　is　a　long　way。〃

〃Why；　it　is　only　twelve　days。〃

〃Well；　marry　first；〃　said　the　politic　mother。

Henry　flushed　all　over。　　〃Ah！〃　said　he；　〃you　tempt　me。　　Heaven　seems　to　open　its　gates　as　you　speak。　　But　you　can　not　be　in　earnest；　he　made　it　an　express　condition　I　should　drop　my　father's　name；　and　take　his。　　Disown　my　poor　dead　father？　　No；　no；　no！〃

Now　in　reality　this　condition　was　wormwood　to　Mrs。　Little；　but　she　knew　that　if　she　let　her　son　see　her　feeling；　all　was　over。　　She　was　all　the　mother　now；　and　fighting　for　her　son's　happiness：　so　she　sacrificed　truth　to　love　with　an　effort；　but　without　a　scruple。　　〃It　is　not　as　if　it　was　a　strange　name。　　Henry；　you　compel　me　to　say　things　that　tear　my　heart　to　say；　butwhich　has　been　your　best　friend；　your　mother；　or　your　poor　dear　father？〃

Henry　was　grieved　at　the　question：　but　he　was　a　man　who　turned　his　back　on　nothing。　　〃My　father　loved　me；〃　said　he：　〃I　can　remember　that；　but　he　deserted　me；　and　you；　in　trouble；　but　youyou　have　been　friend；　parent；　lover；　and　guardian　angel　to　me。　　And；　oh；　how　little　I　have　done　to　deserve　it　all！〃

〃Well；　dear；　the　mother　you　value　so　highly；　her　name　was　Raby。　Yes；　love；　and；　forgive　me；　I　honor　and　love　my　mother's　name　even　more　than　I　do　the　name　of　Little〃（the　tears　ran　out　of　her　eyes　at　this　falsehood）〃pray　take　it；　to　oblige　me；　and　reconcile　me　to　my　dear　brother；　and　end　our　troubles　forever。〃　　Then　she　wept　on　his　neck；　and　he　cried　with　her。

After　a　while；　he　said；　〃I　feel　my　manhood　all　melting　away　together。　　I　am　quite　confused。　　It　is　hard　to　give　up　a　noble　game。　It　is　hard　to　refuse　such　a　mother　as　you。　　Don't　cry　any　more；　for　mercy's　sake！　　I'm　like　to　choke。　　Mind；　crying　is　work　I'm　not　used　to。　　What　does　SHE　say？　　I　am　afraid　I　shall　win　her；　but　lose　her　respect。〃

〃She　says　she　admires　your　pride；　but　you　have　shown　enough。　　If　you　refuse　any　longer；　she　will　begin　to　fear　you　don't　love　her　as　well　as　she　loves　you。〃

This　master…stroke　virtually　ended　the　battle。　　Henry　said　nothing；　but　the　signs　of　giving　way　were　manifest　in　him；　so　manifest　that　Mrs。　Little　became　quite　impatient　for　the　doctor's　arrival　to　crown　all。

He　drove　up　to　the　door　at　last；　and　Henry　ran　out　and　brought　him　in。　　He　looked　pale；　and　sat　down　exhausted。

Mrs。　Little　restrained　her　impatience；　and　said；　〃We　are　selfish　creatures　to　send　you　on　our　business　before　you　are　half　well。〃

〃I　am　well　enough　in　health；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　am　quite　upset。〃

〃What　is　the　matter？　　Surely　you　have　not　failed？　　Guy　does　not　refuse　his　forgiveness？〃

〃No；　it　is　not　that。　　Perhaps；　if　I　had　been　in　timebut　the　fact　is；　Guy　Raby　has　left　England。〃

〃What；　for　good？　　Impossible！〃

〃Who　can　tell？　　All　I　know　is　that　he　has　sold　his　horses；　discharged　his　servants　all　but　one；　and　gone　abroad　without　a　word。　I　was　the　friend　of　his　youthhis　college　chum；　be　must　be　bitterly　wounded　to　go　away　like　that；　and　not　even　let　me　know。〃

Mrs。　Little　lifted　up　her　hands。　　〃What　have　we　done？　what　have　we　done？　　Wounded！　no　wonder。　　Oh；　my　poor；　wronged；　insulted　brother！〃

She　wept　bitterly；　and　took　it　to　heart　so；　it　preyed　on　her　health　and　spirits。　　She　was　never　the　same　woman　from　that　hour。

While　her　son　and　her　friend　were　saying　all　they　could　to　console　her；　there　appeared　at　the　gate　the　last　man　any　of　them　ever　expected　to　seeMr。　Bolt。

Henry　saw　him　first；　and　said　so。

〃Keep　him　out；〃　cried　the　doctor；　directly。　　〃Don't　let　that　bragging　fool　in　to　disturb　our　sorrow。〃　　He　opened　the　door　and　told　the　servant…girl　to　say　〃Not　at　home。〃

〃Not　at　home；〃　said　the　girl。

〃That's　a　lie！〃　shouted　Bolt；　and　shoved　her　aside　and　burst　into　the　room。　　〃None　of　your　tricks　on　travelers；〃　said　he；　in　his　obstreperous　way。　　〃I　saw　your　heads　through　the　window。　　Good　news；　my　boy！　　I've　done　the　trick。　　I　wouldn't　say　a　word　till　it　was　all　settled；　for　Brag's　a　good　dog；　but　Holdfast's　a　better。　　I've　sold　my　building…site　to　some　gents　that　want　to　speculate　in　a　church；　and　I've　made　five　hundred　pounds　profit　by　the　sale。　　I'm　always　right；　soon　or　late。　　And　I've　bought　a　factory　ready　madethe　Star　Works；　bought　'em；　sir；　with　all　the　gear　and　plant；　and　working　hands。〃

〃The　Star　Works？　　The　largest　but　one　in　Hillsborough！〃

〃Ay；　lad。　　Money　and　pluck　together；　they'll　beat　the　world。　　We　have　got　a　noble　place；　with　every　convenience。　　All　we　have　got　to　do　now　is　to　go　in　and　win。〃

Young　Little's　eyes　sparkled。　　〃All　right；〃　said　he；　〃I　like　this　way　the　best。〃

Mrs。　Little　sighed。


CHAPTER　XXX。


In　that　part　of　London　called　〃the　City〃　are　shady　little　streets；　that　look　like　pleasant　retreats　from　the　busy；　noisy　world；　yet　are　strongholds　of　business。

One　of　these　contained；　and　perhaps　still　contains；　a　public　office　full　of　secrets；　some　droll；　some　sad；　some　terrible。　　The　building　had　a　narrow；　insignificant　front；　but　was　of　great　depth；　and　its　south　side　lighted　by　large　bay　windows　all　stone　and　plate…glass；　and　these　were　open　to　the　sun　and　air；　thanks　to　a　singular　neighbor。　　Here；　in　the　heart　of　the　City；　was　wedged　a　little　rustic　church；　with　its　church…yard；　whose　bright…green　grass　first　startled；　then　soothed　and　refreshed　the　eye；　in　that　wilderness　of　stonean　emerald　set　in　granite。　　The　grass　flowed　up　to　the　south　wall　of　the　〃office；〃　those　massive　stone　windows　hung　over　the　graves；　the　plumed　clerks　could　not　look　out　of　window　and　doubt　that　all　men　are　mortal：　and　the　article　the　office　sold　was　immortality。

It　was　the　Gosshawk　Life　Insurance。

On　a　certain　afternoon　anterior　to　the　Hillsborough　scenes　last　presented；　the　plumed　clerks　were　all　at　the　south　windows；　looking　at　a　funeral　in　the　little　church…yard；　and　passing　some　curious　remarks；　for　know　that　the　deceased　was　insured　in　the　Gosshawk　for　nine　hundred　pounds；　and　had　paid　but　one　premium。

The　facts；　as　far　as　known；　were　these。　　Mr。　Richard　Martin；　a　Londoner　by　birth；　but　residing　in　Wales；　went　up　to　London　to　visit　his　brother。　　Toward　the　end　of　the　visit　the　two　Martins　went　up　the　river　in　a　boat；　with　three　more　friends；　and　dined　at　Richmond。　They　rowed　back　in　the　cool　of　the　evening。　　At　starting　they　were　merely　jovial；　but　they　stopped　at　nearly　all　the　public…houses　by　the　water…side；　and；　by　visible　gradations；　became　jolly　uproarioussang　songscaught　crabs。　　At　Vauxhall　they　got　a　friendly　warning；　and　laughed　at　it：　under　Southwark　bridge　they　ran　against　an　abutment；　and　were　upset　in　a　moment：　it　was　now　dusk；　and；　according　to　their　own　account；　they　all　lost　sight　of　each　other　in　the　water。　　One　swam　ashore　in　Middlesex；　another　in　Surrey；　a　third　got　to　the　chains　of　a　barge；　and　was　taken　up　much　exhausted；　and　Robert　Martin　laid　hold　of　the　buttress　itself；　and　cried　loudly　for　assistance。　　They　asked　anxiously　after　each　other；　but　their　anxiety　appeared　to　subside　in　an　hour　or　two；　when　they　found　there　was　nobody　missing　but　Richard　Martin。　　Robert　told　the　police　it　was　all　right；　Dick　could　swim　like　a　cork。　　However；　next　morning　he　came　with　a　sorrowful　face　to　say　his　brother　had　not　reappeared；　and　begged　them　to　drag　the　river。　　This　was　done；　and　a　body　found；　which　the　survivors　and　Mrs。　Richard　Martin　disowned。

The　insurance　office　was　informed；　and　looked　into　the　matter；　and　Mrs。　Martin　told　their　agent；　with　a　flood　of　tears；　she　believed　her　husband　had　taken　that　opportunity　to　desert　her；　and　was　not　drowned　at　all。　　Of　course　this　went　to　the　office　directly。

But　a　fortnight　afterward　a　body　was　found　in　the　water　down　at　Woolwich；　entangled　in　some　rushes　by　the　water…side。

Notice　was　given　to　all　the　survivors。

The　friends　of　Robert　Martin　came；　and　said　the　clothes　resembled　those　worn　by　Richard　Martin；　but　beyond　that　they　could　not　be　positive。

But；　when　the　wife　came；　she　recognized　the　body　at　once。

The　brother　agreed　with　her；　but；　on　account　of　the　bloated　and　discolored　condition　of　the　face；　asked　to　have　the　teeth　examined：　his　poor　brother；　he　said；　had　a　front　tooth　broken　short　in　two。　This　broken　tooth　was　soon　found；　also　a　pencil…case；　and　a　key；　in　the　pocket　of　the　deceased。　　These　completed　the　identification。

Up　to　this　moment　the　conduct　of　Richard　Martin's　relatives　and　friends　had　been　singularly　apathetic；　but　now　all　was　changed；　they　broke　into　loud　lamentatio